Camden man accused of pushing wife off cliff expected to go to trial in March 2012

ROCKLAND, Maine — A man accused of trying to kill his wife by shoving her off a mountain cliff will likely have his trial in March.

At a hearing in Knox County Superior Court on Wednesday, Justice Jeffrey Hjelm decided to move the trial date from late fall to early spring. Charles Reed Black’s attorney also asked that Black, who is out on bail, be able to take a trip to Kansas City, Mo., to see his family in December.

Assistant District Attorney Chris Fernald didn’t object, but did say that Black should stay in one home and only for particular dates because his alleged victim, his wife, will also be in Kansas City in December.

Hjelm will allow Black to visit his family as long as he stays with his son and returns by Dec. 18.

Black is accused of attempted murder and several assault charges after police say he smashed a rock over his wife’s head during a hike on Mount Megunticook in Camden Hills State Park on April 7. He then dragged her to the edge of Maiden Cliff and shoved her off, according to the indictment released in July.

Black also fell down the mountain and injured himself. His wife, Lisa Black, made it down the mountain alive but injured. A passer-by saw her standing bloody in the road and called 911. Police searched the mountain for Charles Black, found him, pulled him down the mountain, hospitalized him and then arrested him a few days later as he was being discharged.

Police reports filed in Knox County Superior Court indicate greed as a possible motive for Black’s alleged attempt to kill his wife. Lisa Black recently had inherited about $4 million.